About Us

The old adage “Teamwork makes the dream work” is evident in the execution of our promise to you, our valued client. Whether engaging at board level, operating within highly functional management structure, or getting the job done at the rockface, we are committed to our collective goal of service excellence.

Lucas van der Merwe

Lucas van der Merwe

Founder/Owner

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Elizma Pheiffer

Elizma Pheiffer

CEO

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Martin Pheiffer

Martin Pheiffer

Financial Director

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Heather Balepile

Heather Balepile

Director

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Benni Balepile

Benni Balepile

Director

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Born in Sasolburg, raised in Rustenburg, Lucas matriculated in 1992 and completed his degree in Human Resources and Labour Law by 1995. Upon graduation, Lucas had managed to pay for his entire degree by being employed as a cleaner in a local hospital. While working for a company practising Labour Law, Lucas met a man in the gym one day who gave him the idea that would forever change his business ideals. And so Ziphi Nkomo was born.

Beginning with six employees at a retail client, Lucas would arrive in Thembisa at 04h00 each morning to recruit under flashlight another suitable employee day by day. By night, Lucas would wade through admin, invoicing and management of the sites on his own, only to return to Thembisa by 4 am.

Over the next. 20 plus years, the business grew at a rapid rate, providing job security to well over 7,500 people nationwide. Ziphi Nkomo 1 Group of Companies has carefully handpicked and crafted a team that has enabled the birth of Singamandla Retail Solutions to nurture and are where Ziphi left off, knowing the importance of facilitating and adapting to the country’s economic and social responsibilities.

Lucas lives according to “the power of now” and has over many years infiltrated this system into the ethical conduct of business… ensuring that Ziphi Nkomo 1 Group of Companies and now Singamandla Retail Solutions has maintained its exceptional standards of service excellence and productivity.

Born in Thabazimbi, Elizma matriculated in 1997 in the North West and spent 18 years in the Retail and Labour Industry as a Warehouse Manager and Labour Consultant. Her numerous responsibilities and extensive experience in Retail and Distribution Management have rewarded her countless awards over the years.

With Ziphi, Elizma was the Director in the Western Cape for five years, before being promoted to CEO of the entire company, now including Singamandla Retail Solutions. She oversees all aspects of Singamandla’s ideals nationwide; including all Operations and requirements thereof, Recruitment, Administrative and HR/IR and Payroll Functions as well as Customer Care.

After a successful career over the past 23 years in the Retail & Supply chain, Elizma now enjoys coaching and advising all employees as how to achieve the same goals and objectives that she so passionately has overcome. Constantly inspired to develop her employee’s objectives and own personal goals through team synergy, Elizma is a great supporter of staff well-being, client satisfaction, and maintaining the standards that Singamandla ensures. A true asset to the team and the leader we all wish to be.

“A goal without a plan, is just a wish”… – Martin

Martin keeps us planning! Martin was born in Rustenburg and matriculated from Bergsig High. He was a champion athlete and cricket player and after school completed an International Diploma in COBAL programming and proceeded to open his own Computer School for 420 students which explains his superman skills on Excel today! His love for analysing figures and statistics is something we admire, and Martin’s strongest point is ensuring these figures get relayed to the rest of us.

Martin has 16 years of experience in Warehouse Operations and his passion for working with people ensures he gets the most out of his team to always reach targets and work at maximum productivity. Anyone can have a conversation with Martin’s picking team and know that he is the firm favourite outright.

One day we will tell Martin his main job is being a comedian…until then, he remains our Financial Director.

We are delighted to reveal our newest addition to our Board Of Directors, although she is no newbie to the scene. Married to Benni, Heather has known the in’s and out’s of our business for ages, and although she has always been a support, she is now hands-on-deck full time into our crew.

We acclaim Heather as SuperMom, SuperWife, SuperModel and now SuperDirector/Shareholder, Heather inspires us ladies daily to reach that little bit further and aim to achieve our most sought after goals; while firing up the men in the process.

Born in the coastal town of Port Elizabeth, Heather matriculated in 1999 and after completing her studies in Travel and Tourism, moved to Gauteng to pursue her career further.

Heather proceeded to complete her studies in Personal Training, and still to this day, dedicates all of her spare time to changing the lifestyles, the habits and the attitudes of all that will allow her enough time to get started on your profile.

In the workplace at Singamandla, Heather’s go-get-em attitude on the floor is a driving force behind our teams, and people fall in her wake as she moves constantly to the tune of her own motto “always be better than you are”.

As the happiest person we know, we are so excited to show her off to the world.

Benni was born in Kuruman and matriculated in Kimberley before moving to Pretoria to complete his studies in Sports Science.

Benni began his own business shortly thereafter within the fitness world, and met Lucas in 2008. Sharing a common interest in fitness, Lucas and Benni quickly became friends, and Benni’s enthusiasm and interest in the corporate world presented him the opportunity of getting involved with Ziphi as a Non-Executive Director.

Benni has been a true asset to Ziphi with his eagerness to learn, and accepting new challenges daily.

Benni’s personal achievements in the fitness world have continued to soar, and it must be mentioned that Benni has won numerous titles, including the likes of WPF National Winner, Bodies For Africa, Gauteng North and HH Classic Champion as well as his most recent win of Gauteng North Welterweight Champion.

With the birth of Singamandla Retail Solutions, Benni has joined the team permanently and is both an insightful director and shareholder of the company.

Contact

T: 021 982 0620 | 087 148 8411
F: 021 982 2796
E: recruitcpt@singamandla.co.za

Head office

8 Goud Crescent 
Brackenfell Industrial 
Cape Town 
7560 

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